The highly-anticipated, undisputed light-heavyweight title fight between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev has been rescheduled. After their initial bout was postponed due to injury, the fight will now take place on October 12 to kick off Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia.
Initial Postponement and Interim Fight
Originally, Bivol and Beterbiev were set to face off during the ‘5 vs 5’ event in Riyadh. This event featured five Matchroom boxers from Eddie Hearn’s stable against five Queensbury fighters from Frank Warren’s camp. The night ended with a 10-0 victory for Warren, highlighted by Zhilei Zhang’s fifth-round knockout of Deontay Wilder.
However, the bout was delayed when Beterbiev suffered a ruptured meniscus during training. Malik Zinad stepped in as Beterbiev’s replacement, and Bivol delivered an explosive performance, securing a sixth-round TKO against Zinad. This victory extended Bivol’s perfect record to 23-0, marking his first stoppage win since 2018.
Statements and Future Expectations
Post-fight, Bivol expressed confidence in his power: “I believe my power was there every time, and I didn’t have any doubts.” Bivol, who hails from Kyrgyzstan, holds the WBA and IBO titles. Beterbiev, residing in Canada, holds the WBC, WBO, and IBF titles and boasts a perfect knockout record with 20 wins.
Upcoming Clash
Both fighters remain unbeaten, with Bivol at 23-0 and Beterbiev at 20-0. The October 12 fight promises to unify the light-heavyweight division, bringing together the WBC, WBO, IBF, WBA, and IBO titles.
In preparation for the rescheduled fight, Bivol emphasized the importance of adaptability: “We are professional boxers; we have to change tactics at any moment. I had enough time to adjust my preparations for a different fighter to Beterbiev.”
Stay tuned for more updates on the upcoming Bivol vs. Beterbiev showdown. This fight promises to be a defining moment in light-heavyweight boxing history.
